Judge Hisashi Owada (Japan) was elected President of the International Court of Justice, and Judge Peter Tomka (Slovakia) was elected as Vice-President.Each of them joined the court in 2003 and each will now serve a term (as President and Vice-President, respectively) for a term of three years.

Judge Owada follows Judge Rosalyn Higgins, a British jurist who deserves her own personal fan club.Her leadership of the ICJ during her term as President was extraordinary.

There are 15 Judges on the ICJ (and 14 active cases presently on its docket).Here’s the latest list, following the elections of five judges last year and the elections this week of the President and Vice President.